The day before you sail
Channelside and the Riverwalk
- The Florida Aquarium is next to the cruise terminals.
- Walk the Riverwalk, or ride the streetcar to Ybor City.
Rather book it? Aquarium tickets or a Ybor City food tour.
Tampa pre- & post-cruise tours
A cruise port in the heart of downtown Tampa, near historic Ybor City and Busch Gardens, with Gulf Coast beaches about 45 minutes away.
The cruise portPort Tampa Bay's cruise terminals are in the Channel District next to downtown Tampa and the Florida Aquarium. The airport is about 20 minutes away.
Tampa cruise day essentials
before you head to the ship
The terminals
Terminals 2 and 3In the Channel District, with a parking garage across the street.
Terminal 6Nearby, with an open-air lot right at the ship.
The Florida Aquarium and Ybor City are close by.
Parking
Prepay online at the port's website; links are organized by cruise line.
| Per day | $18 plus a booking fee |
|---|---|
| Valet, per day | about $21 |
| Oversize, per day | about $39 |
Flying in
Tampa International (TPA) is about 20 minutes away.
Before you sail
Arrive in your check-in window. Ships leaving Tampa sail under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge on the way out.
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Before or after your cruise in Tampa
make a trip of it
After you get off the ship
Clearwater Beach
- Drive about 40 minutes to Clearwater Beach.
- Tampa airport is on the way back.
Rather book it? A post-cruise beach tour with an airport drop-off.
An extra day
St. Petersburg
- The Dalí Museum and the St. Pete waterfront, about 30 minutes away.
Rather book it? Museum tickets or a St. Pete tour.
Times are approximate. Leave plenty of time for check-in before you sail, and for traffic on the way to the airport after.
Things to do before or after your cruise
Before your cruise, leave plenty of time to reach the terminal before check-in closes. After your cruise, check what time the tour starts and whether it can hold your luggage.
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Tampa tours from GetYourGuide
GetYourGuide's own search results for Tampa, in GetYourGuide's order. Check each tour's start time and meeting point against your ship's schedule.
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Scout's notes on Tampa
Before your cruise
The Florida Aquarium is next to the terminals, and the TECO streetcar runs to historic Ybor City, known for its cigar heritage. Busch Gardens is about 20 minutes away.
After your cruise
Clearwater Beach and St. Pete Beach on the Gulf are about 45 minutes away, and dolphin-watching cruises leave from both. Some tours pair the beaches with an airport drop-off.
Timing tips
The bridges between Tampa and the beaches can slow down at rush hour. Leave extra time if you're heading back to the airport after a beach trip.
From fellow cruisers
Tips from people who've been, read by us before they go up.
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